Kidney Stones / Renal calculi

Kidney stones, also called renal calculi, are solid concretions (crystal aggregations) of dissolved minerals in urine; calculi typically form inside the kidneys or bladder. The terms nephrolithiasis and urolithiasis refer to the presence of calculi in the kidneys and urinary tract, respectively.

Renal stone or calculus or lithiasis is one of the most common diseases of the urinary tract. It occurs more frequently in men than in women and in whites than in blacks. It is rare in children. It shows a familial predisposition.

Urinary calculus is a stone-like body composed of urinary salts bound together by a colloid matrix of organic materials. It consists of a nucleus around which concentric layers of urinary salts are deposited.

Renal calculi can vary in size from as small as grains of sand to as large as a golf ball.

Most calculi originate within the kidney and proceed distally, creating various degrees of urinary obstruction as they become lodged in narrow areas, including the ureteropelvic junction, pelvic brim, and ureterovesical junction. Location and quality of pain are related to position of the stone within the urinary tract. Severity of pain is related to the degree of obstruction, presence of ureteral spasm, and presence of any associated infection.

Etiology

Hyperexcretion of relatively insoluble rinary constituents such as oxalates, calcium, uric acid, cystine and certain drugs (such as magnesium trisilicate in the treatment of peptic ulcer).

Either there is an increase in the crystalloid level or a fall in the colloid level, urinary stones may be formed.

If there is any modification of the colloids e. g. they lose their solvent action or adhesive property, urinary stones may develop.

DECREASED URINARY OUTPUT OF CITRATE.

VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY.

The desquamated cells form nidus for stone formation. This is more applicable to bladder stones.

URINARY INFECTION.

Infection disturbs the colloid content of the urine, also causes abnormality in the colloids (which may cause the crystalloid to be precipitated).

Infection also changes urinary pH and also causes increase in concentration of crystalloids.

URINARY STASIS.

It causes a shift of the pH of the urine to the alkaline side, predisposes urinary infection, and allows the crystalloids to precipitate.

HYPERPARATHYROIDISM.

Due to overproduction of parathormone the bones become decalcified and calcium concentration in the urine is increased. This extra calcium may be deposited in the renal tubules or in the pelvis to form renal calculus.

·frequency in micturation: Defined as an increase in number of voids per day (>than 5 times), but not an increase of total urine output per day (2500 ml). That would be called polyuria.

·loss of appetite.

·loss of weight.

Investigations

Blood examination.

Urinalysis.

Radiography.

Straight X-ray.

Excretory urogram.

Ultrasonography.

Computed tomography.

Renal Scan.

Cystoscopy.

Stone analysis.

The following investigations are appropriate in bilateral and recurrent stone formers:

·Serum calcium, measured fasting on three occasions to exclude hyperparathyroidism

·Serum uric acid

·Urinary urate, calcium and phosphate in a 24 hour collection. The urine should also be screened for cystine.

·Analysis of any stone passed.

General management

The general measures or advises which should be given to the patient regardless of the type of stone are:

·Fluid intake should he high at all times. Fluids should be taken at bed time so that nocturia will occur. This will prevent dehydration.

·Avoidance of milk, cheese and great deal of calcium should be advised. If renal function is satisfactory, sodium cellulose phosphate 5 g T.D.S. with meals should be prescribed to reduce calcium absorption.

·Urine should be kept acid all the time. Alkalies should be prohibited or used in lesser quantities in those patients who are suffering from peptic ulcer.

·Vitamin D should be stopped or used in very low quantity.

·Patients with hyperuricemia should avoid red meats, offal and fish, which are rich in purines, and should receive treatment with allopurinol.

·Eggs, meat and fish are high in sulphur containing proteins and should be restricted in patients with cystinuria.

Homeopathic Treatment for Kidney Stones or Renal calculi

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution etc. A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions. The medicines given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed against each medicine may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications are also taken into account for selecting a remedy. To study any of the following remedies in more detail, please visit our Materia Medica section. None of these medicines should be taken without professional advice.

Homeopathic Remedies

Argentum nit.

“Nephralgia from congestion of kidneys or passage of calculi.” Dull aching in small of back and over bladder. Urine dark, contains blood or deposit of renal epithelium and uric acid: passed often and little at a time, in drops (Nephritic colic.) Urine burns while passing and urethra feels swollen. Face dark: dried-up look. Argentum nit. craves sweets and sugar, which disagree. Suffers from anticipation: hurry. Flatulent dyspepsia.

Belladonna

Renal calculi with sharp, shooting pains. Come suddenly, crampy straining along ureter, during passage of calculus. Feverish and excitable. “Irritation and clutching and spasm where there are little circular fibres in small canals- as in gall-stones (which see) or in renal calculi.” Belladonna is red, and hot, and dry: hypersensitive, especially to jarring. Belladonna pains come and go suddenly.

Benzoic acid

Nephritic colic with offensive urine.Urine deep-red, of strong odour:-dark brown; smells cadaverous, putrid. Urine alternately thick like pea-soup, then clear like water. But patient feels better when urine is profuse, thick and offensive: suffers in joints-heart- when it is clear and scanty. Highly intensified urinous odour.

Berberis

“Excellent remedy for renal calculi.” Pains shoot: radiate from a point . Cannot make the least motion: sits over to painful side for relief. Sharp, darting pains following ureter and extending down into legs. Pains run up into kidneys and down into bladder. Formation of little calculi like pin-heads in pelvis of Kidney, start to go down to bladder, with great suffering. “You will be astonished to know how quickly Berberis will relieve this particular colic.” “Anything that is spasmodic can be relieved instantly.’-Kent. Burning and soreness, lumbar, in region of kidneys. Cannot bear any jar : has to step down carefully. Urine dark, turbid, with copious sediment: slow to flow: but constantly urging. May be associated with biliary calculi.

One of the best remedies during the paroxysms of renal colic. Pain and excitement found in no other remedy. Pains lancinating, cutting, stabbing like knives, shoot off in

different directions. Burning pain, with intolerable urging to urinate. Tenesmus. Sits and strains and gets no relief. “if he could only pass a few drops more urine (or a little more bloody stool) he would get relief: but no relief comes. Intolerable urging, before, with and after urination: violent pain in bladder” (Cystitis). Thirst, with aversion to all fluids. “The burning pain and intolerable urging to urinate point to Cantharis in all inflammatory diseases of others parts.”

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